Machine for washing dishes and the like



J. M. DREES 2,654,379

MACHINE EoR WASHING DIsHEs AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1953 Filed March 26, 1949 FIG. 3

FIG. 4

, ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 J. M. DREI-:s 2,654,379

MACHINE FOR WASHING DIsHEs AND THE LIKE Filed March 2e, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 5 3 FIG. S

Oct. 6, 1953 J. M. DREES 2,654,379

MACHINE FOR WASHING DISHES AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Awww-WW Oct. 6, 1953 J. M. DREES 2,654,379

MACHINE FOR WASHING DIsHEs AND THE LIKE Filed March 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENraR-Mhnw Patented Oct. 6, 1953 l. WASHINGYDI SHES .AND .THE BIKE Joseph M.)re'es, Saratoga', Calif.

- 5Applicationfltlalzch'ff, 1949,Serial No.83;59'6

15 Claims (01.134-185) .This .invention .relates .to jan. improvedv machine for-washing-.dishes and the like. IIhe .object .of this invention is primarily animp'elleridesigned to igifve va more .concentrated .and better .directed Washing .stream with .a-minimum .power .input and with aminimumnf impeller vibrationtransmitted to thecase.

.Another `obj ect is to .achieve .a uniform return of .waterstriking .the ltopof Atheeaseisoas to. flush the outside .bottom lof .such items as cups and glasseslbeingcleaned.

.A 'further 'object is .to removefood particles and lg'reas'es f rom Vthe washing without ...the danger oiplugg'ing the .domestic .plumbingsys'tem .Additionalobjeotsareto.providemeans of more efte'c'tivelyrins'ing.artiles so washed, and to flush thecase'clean.

'Thefiea'tures .of .my .invention .for .carrying .out the above objeots, and-.advantages include.:l a ro-` upflig'uid and. .eject the 'liquid in Various directions bv-action jo'f .centrifugal../force; means to impart axial reciprocating .movement to themtating 'impeller; means .lto Acontrol 'the liquid level at Vsaid impeller .suitably Yfor the 'bucket Iblades.; easily removable combination drainage'v -device and trap.; and.a'manipulablezrinsing device which can bemoved longitudinally duringrrinsing.

' 'I am aware that some changes may Ibemade inthevgerreral `arrangerrients and cembinationsof the :several 'devices and parts, .as well -.as .in '.the details "of :the construction 'thereof without .departing from fthe .scope of the present .invention as 'Set forth 'the 'fllowing speiication, ,and as defined'inthefo-llowing claims; henoeldo not my ,invention to the exact .arrangements and 'combinations of the4 said device and .parts as described 'in the said speoicationi nor. do I confine "myself 'tothe exact .details .ofy lthe .construction of 'thesaid `parts .as illustrated .in .the accompanying drawings.

With the kforegoing and other .objects `in view, whi'oh will be"'made^manifest vin the following detailed description, reference is had 'to 'the accompanying drawings for the illustrative'embodimentpfth'eiinvention,wherein.:

jFig. "lshows' the `freni-elevation Lof thefmachine;

Fi'vg. 2is aside'. elevationf .the machine.

Fig B *is a front elevation Lpartly. lin section .to show construction .of the rinsing, waste segregation .and-.draining mechanism. n

Fig". 'ais aA sidesection .through-aboutthe center o'fthe. machine .to showiurther -.the.rinsing,'-Waste segregation and .draining mechanism,-arrd also thefimpellerhlib and blade fchannels.

mechanism baffles .or racks, showingftheimpellerand the manner .in which -it is mounted, also sho winga top View .offthe drain.

F.ig is .a rfragmental Ysectional view.iof.'.the journalmounting :of .the impeller.

fFig. Tis a side-view `ofthe impeller atene end of--itsstrokerof movement.

Fig. 8 is an end Yviewoffthe impeller in the ,posin tion of.Fig. 7.

Fig. 91s a Vfragmental sectional view oftheJmpeller frame.

Fig. `10 .isa side viewfof the ,limpeller in anintermediate position during its axial movement 'from said rstposition.

1.1 is .an .end'view of the impeller vin Ythe positionof Eig. l0.

. Eig. 12. isa .side View of the propeller 'at .the other end..of..its.st1"oke.

..Fig. .13 .isanend vviewlof the impeller in said otherfend'position'df FigflZ.

. Fig. 14 fis acrosssecitional view of the 'middle of theimpelle'rhub.

Fig. l5 is .aside view .of theimpeller man intermediateposition during its travel 'from said second end position toward said rst end .position.

"E1-ig. 16 is .an end view of the impeller vin said second intermediate position.

.Fig. 1"7 is aseetionalside View oan alternate cam drive. K

Fig'. i'18 `is ranendview vofthe alternate `typeimpellershaftand'cam^drive.

Fig;1 19"'is ai-longitudinal view 'of 'the lalternate type impell'ertogether'with follower `and follower bearing,and

In this Aillustrative' embodiment lan impeller I is rotated by vand 'is `reciprocalole `on anr -impeller shaft: 2,"W'hith *latter is 'suitably 'mounted in` 'a casing i3 andisdrrvenby Aadsuitable drive mechanismvl ill.` The "impeller il is supported above `a trough l 'whichnorrta'ins the -liquid used `in Lwash-- ingor'spraying. The liquid level Tis maintained by asuitab'le level .control so that bucket blades 8 .protruding from -the"irnpe'll'erperiphery dip into the 'liquidjorgpic'king .up a .quantity o'f theliquid and spraying it outwardly by action .of centrifugal 'force .createdbvthe rotation of. the .impellen 'This .device .be- `used in various combinations Io'r various purposes of Aspraying Lor :wash-v ing, .although :it .is herein illustrated as ina-clisli Washingmachi-ne.

IndetaiLthe simpeller 1I broadly includes afhubk and a device to impart an axial component force to the impeller to shift it axially back and forth on the impeller shaft 2. In the form shown in Figs. '7 to 16 inclusive, a pair of spaced hubs S are mounted on the opposite ends of barrel or cylindrical cam frame II. A cam path I2 is cut in the hollow cylindrical frame II. This cam path I2 is an endless reversing path, namely it rst extends spirally and longitudinally around one half of the cylindrical frame II and then it rounds around at the end of the frame I I into a reversing loop I3, and then spirally and oppositely around the other half of the frame II to the other end and the other reversing loop I3 back to the rst half of the spiral path. Thus the cam path I2 extends spirally and longitudinally around the entire cylindrical frame II in opposite directions on the opposite longitudinal halves of said frame and continuously around at each end of the Yframe I I.

The frame II is, in effect, split spirally and longitudinally in two halves by the groove of the cam path I2. A sleeve I4 around the middle portion of the frame II holds the frame halves or sections together. This sleeve I4 has diametrically opposite outwardly projecting pockets I5 along the portions thereof which overlap the cam path I2 so as to accommodate the outer end of a cam follower I1 therethrough.

Y This carnfollower I1 includes a follower hub I8 fixed on the shaft 2, a follower stem I9 extended radially from the hub i8, a follower head or roller 2| rotatably held on the outer end of the stem I9, and a spacer bushing 22 on4 the stem I9'between the roller 2I andthe hub I8. A

vbalancing stem 23 extends radially oppositely to the follower stem I9, and it has a counterweight 24 thereon to maintain a balancedv rotation and obviate whipping or extreme vibration ofthe shaft 2. The follower roller 2| rides in the cam path I2 to impart rotation to the impeller I. The force thus exerted on the cam path has a substantial component parallel with the axis of the impeller frame II and in opposite direction in the opposite spirals of the cam path I2, which component causes the endless reversing cam path to ride on the follower roller ZI as the impeller I is rotated and thus reciprocates the impeller I on the shaft 2 simultaneously with its rotation.

In the form of the impeller heretofore described, there are two bucket blades 8 in diametri-Y cally opposite positions on each impeller hub 9. These bucket blades 8 protrude generally tangentially outwardly from the periphery of the hub 9. Each bucket blade' is formed of a pair of opposed sides 26, connected at their outer edges by a bucket heel or bottom 21 which converges to the Y hub periphery. The outer edges of the bucket sides 26 are correspondingly inclined. The projecting leading edge 2B of the bucket bottom 21 is slightly curved toward the hub periphery to facilitate the picking up of water during rotation. In the bucket bottom 21 is formed a blade channel or ejector channel 29, which extends Vfrom about the inner end corner 3| of the bucket bottom 21 outwardly and Von the outside of saidbottom 21. The bottom 21 has a slot 32 therethrough along the channel 29 so that water flows from the bucket into the channel 29. VThe outer end 33 of the channel is Vopen and operates as thespray orifice. When the impeller is rotated the leading edge'28 of the bucket blade 8 picks up water from the trough B. Because of the iner'tia the water is trapped in the bucket corner 3l. The action of centrifugal force then causes the trapped water to flow to the most radial part of the bottom and along the channel 29 and y free from the outer end or channel orice 33. This channel orice 33 is spaced inwardly from the bucket leading edge 28. This action through the channel produces a discharge or ejection of liquid in comparatively large drops, thus reducing the atmospheric resistance per unit mass discharged. The drops so discharged strike the articles to be cleaned at a comparatively greater velocity.

Each channel 29 is pitched in a selected axial or transverse incline with respect to the bucket bottom 21. For instance in the opposite blades 8 on a unit the channels 29 are pitched oppositely to one another so as to give to the respective discharge streams opposite components in axial direction. This action, especially when combined with the reciprocation of the impeller, serves to direct the liquid at an angle to both sides of a plane normal to the impeller shaft, and in dishwashing practice, thus wash both sides of dishes suitably held in place. Y

As illustrated in Figs. 7, 10, 12 and 15 the axial component of rotating force between the cam follower and the cam path moves the impeller from the extreme position of Fig. 7 through the middle position of Fig. 10 to the other extreme position of Fig. 12, and then reversing through the end loop of the cam path, 'back through the return middle position of Fig. 15 to the initial position of Fig. 7. The respective corresponding bucket blade positions are shown in Figs. 8, 11, 13 and 16 showing the ejection of water drops in the various directions. As the axial components of rotating forces on the impeller on the opposite sides of the cam path are opposite, the impeller reverses its axial motion every time the follower transfers from one side of the path to the other.

The principle of operation heretofore described applies also to the modified form of my impeller shown in Figs. 17 to 2O inclusive. In this form a reversing endless cam path 34 is cut into the periphery of an impeller shaft 36. The cam path 34 is in the form of a right and left hand spiral groove on the opposite sides and around the shaft, the pitch of the grooves being altered at each end of the path to blend into a continuous reversing path. A cam follower in this form includes a follower head 31 of generally elliptical cross section slidable edgewise in the cam path 34 and so confined therein as to transmit rotating and sliding force tothe impeller body. A follower stem 38 extends from the follower head 31 and drivingly engages the impeller to be driven on said shaft. This follower stem 38 is journalled in a hollow bearing 39 which latter is suitably mounted on the hub 4I of the modied iinpeller. This form is a single hub with a pair of diametrically opposite bucket blades 42 of the same type as the bucket blades 8 heretofore described, except that the inner corner 43 of each bucket blade 43 protrudes somewhat further from the hub periphery.

The supporting mounting of the ends of the shaft, shown in Figs. 2 and 6 is such that the impact of the impeller blades striking the liquid is not transmitted to the casing 3 directly. This mounting also prevents the'leaking or splashing of Water from the casing. Each end of the impeller shaft 2 is journalled in a journal block 44, which latter is supported on the free end of an arcuatespring bar 46 by a clamping screw 41. The other end of the spring bar 46 is adjustably held in a sleeve bracket 48 on aniouter flange ing generally tangentially from the periphery of said frame, and being open at its tip facing in the direction of rotation of said frame, a channel on the bottom of the bucket formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the frame, said bucket emptying into said channel at a point spaced from said tip to discharge water from said channel generally radially and partly axially and by action of centrifugal force.

3. A sprayer impeller device, comprising a rotating shaft, a frame on the shaft rotated by said shaft, coacting elements on the shaft and on the frame to impart axial movement to the frame on the shaft successively in opposite directions, and bucket blades rotating and moving with the frame for spraying liquid, and means to maintain a body of liquid beneath said frame and in the path of said bucket blades, each bucket blade including a bucket portion protruding generally tangentially from the periphery of said frame, and being open at its tip facing in the direction of rotation of said frame, a channel on the bottomV of the bucket formed at predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the frame, said bucket emptying into said channel at a point spaced from said tip to discharge water from said channel generally radially and partly axially and by action of centrifugal force, the channels of the blades being at different angles with respect to said axis of rotation.

4. A sprayer impeller device, comprising a ro- I tating shaft, a frame on the shaft rotated by said shaft, coacting elements on the shaft and on the frame to impart axial movement to the frame on the shaft successively in opposite direction, and bucket blades rotating and moving with the frame for spraying liquid, said coacting elements including an endless reversing cam path and a cam follower engaging said cam path, and means to maintain a body of liquid beneath said frame andin the path of said bucket blades.

5. A sprayer impeller device, comprising a rotatingV shaft,'a frame on the shaft rotated by said shaft, coacting elements on the shaft and on the frame to impart axial movement to the frame on the shaft successively in opposite directions, and bucket blades rotating and moving with the frame for spraying liquid, said coacting elements including an andless reversing cam path cylindrical on and concentric with said frame, and a cam follower flxedly extended from the said shaft into engagement with said cam path, and means to maintain a body of liquid beneath said frame and inthe path of said bucket blades.

6. A sprayer impeller device, comprising a rotating shaft, a frame on the shaft rotated by said shaft, coacting elements on the shaft and on the frame to impart axial movement to the frame on the shaft successively in opposite directions and bucket blades rotating and moving with the frame for spraying liquid, said coacting elements including an endless reversing cam path on the shaft, and a cam follower extended from said frame generally radially and into engagement `with said cam path, and means to maintain a body of`liquid beneath said frame and in the pathof said bucket blades. Y

7. A sprayer impeller device, comprisingva rotating shaft, a frame on the shaft rotated by said shaft, coacting elements on the shaft and on the frame to impart axial movement tothe frame on the shaft successively in opposite directions, and bucket blades rotating and moving with the frame for spraying liquid, and a vibration absorbing support for each end of said shaft in- 8 cluding a bearing block and a generally spiral spring arm support connected to said bearing block, and means to maintain a body of liquid beneath said frame and in the path of said bucket blades.

8. A sprayer blade for rotating sprayer devices of the character described, comprising a bucket having an open end generally radial with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotating device and protruding outwardly from said device, a Wall inclined from the leading edge of said opening and toward said device, a closed heel formed at the trailing end of said bucket wall, a channel extended from said heel toward said leading edge on the outside of said wall and diverging from said wall outwardly, the trailing portion of said channel being open into said bucket, and the leading end of said channel being open to eject by action of centrifugal force liquid picked up by said leading edge and dropped into said channel.

9. A sprayer blade for rotating sprayer devices of the character described, comprising a bucket having an open end generally radial with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotating device and protruding outwardly from said device, a wall inclined from the leading edge of said opening and toward said device, a closed heel formed at the trailing end of said bucket wall, a channel extended from said heel toward said leading edge on the outside of said wall and diverging from said wall outwardly, the trailing portion of said channel being open into said bucket, and the leading end of said channel being open to eject by action of centrifugal force liquid picked up by said leading edge and dropped into said channel, said channel being at a transverse angle with respect to said bucket wall.

10. A sprayer blade for rotating sprayer devices of the character described, comprising a bucket having an open end generally radial with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotating device and protruding outwardly from said device, a wall inclined from the leading edge of said opening and toward said device, a closed heel formed at the trailing end'of said bucket wall, a channel extended from Vsaid heel toward said leading edge on the outside of said wall and diverging from said wall outwardly, the trailing portion of said channel being open into said bucket, and theV leading end of said channelbeing open to eject by action of centrifugal force liquid picked up by said leading edge and dropped into said channel, and the leading end of said wall being curved inwardly toward said leading edge to form a pickup trough.

11. A spraying impeller comprising a rotating frame, and a plurality of bucket blades on said frame, each bucket blade including a bucket having an open end generally radial with respect to the axisrof rotation of said rotating device and protruding outwardly fromsaid device, a wall inclined from the leading edge of said open-ing and toward said device, a closed heel formed at the trailing end of said bucket wall, a channel extended from heel l toward said leading edge on the outside of said wall and diverging from said wall outwardly, the trailing portion of said channel being open into Vsaid bucket, and the leading end of said channel being open to eject by action of centrifugal force liquid picked up by said leading edge and dropped into said channel, said channels on the different buckets being at different transverse angles with respect to said frame. Y Y

12. A spraying impeller comprising a rotating frame, and a plurality of bucket blades on said frame, each bucket blade including a bucket having an open end generally radial with respect to the axis of rotation of said rotating frame and protruding outwardly from said frame, a Wall inclined from the leading edge of said opening and toward said frame, a closed heel formed at the trailing end of said bucket Wall, a channel extended from said heel toward said leading edge on the outside of said wall and diverging from said wall outwardly, the trailing portion of said channel being open into said bucket, and the outer end of said channel being open to eject by action of centrifugal force liquid picked up by said leading edge and dropped into said channel, said channels on the different buckets being at different transverse angles with respect to said frame, and means to reciprocate said rotating frame with said bucket blades axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the frame.

13. In a washing machine of the character described, a casing, racks in the casing for holding articles to be washed, a rotating sprayer in said casing comprising a rotating shaft supported on a generally horizontal axis in said casing, a spraying frame on said shaft, generally radial spraying bucket blades on said frame, and a drive connection device between said frame and said shaft for rotating said frame and imparting horizontal reciprocation to said frame along said rotating shaft.

14. In a washing machine of the character described, a casing, racks in the casing for holding articles to be washed, a rotating sprayer in said casing comprising a rotating shaft supported on a generally horizontal axis in said casing, a spraying frame on said shaft, generally radial spraying bucket blades on said frame, and a drive connection device between said frame and said shaft for rotating said frame and imparting horizontal reciprocation to said frame along said rotating shaft, a trough formed in said casing along said frame and shaft, a liquid collecting element in said casing and a device determining liquid flow from said element to said trough so as to maintain a constant liquid level in said trough in the path of said bucket blades.

15. In a washing machine of the character described, a casing, racks in the casing for holding' articles to be washed, a rotating sprayer in said casing comprising a rotating shaft supported on a generally horizontal axis in said casing, a spraying frame on said shaft, generally radial spraying bucket blades on said frame, and a drive connection device between said frame and said shaft for rotating said frame and imparting horizontal rcciprocation to said frame along said rotating shaft, a trough formed in said casing along said frame and shaft, a sump formed in said casing adjacent said trough and being separated from the latter, a baie projecting above the liquid level in said sump and trough, said baffle having ports for allowing return flow of liquid from said sump into said trough for maintaining liquid level in said trough in the path of said bucket blades.

JOSEPH M. DREES.

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